Attachment for singletrees



(No Model.) .7 v

' R. T. VAN VALKENBURG.

ATTACHMENT FORSINGLETREES. No. 532,119. Pat'ented Jan. 8, 1895.

UNITED- STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

RANDALL T. VAN VALKENBURG, OF NILES, MICHIGAN.

ATTACHMENT FOR SINGLETREES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,119, dated January 8, 1895.

Application filed March 13, 1894. Serial No. 503,621. (No model.)

I harness from accidentally becoming detached from the singletree, thus avoiding runaway accidents which are often caused thereby; further to provide a support for the ends of the traces or tugs which are often longer than necessary, from fioppin g about and coming in contact with the wheels of the carriage; and

means to regulate the swinging movement of the singletree, caused by the movement of the horse, aswell as to hold the singletree intact, should one of the traces or tugs become detached therefrom, thus dispensing with the unreliable leather straps or loops which are usually used for the same purpose, and which become rotten and useless through long usage.

The attachment is simple and inexpensive, and entirely avoids the dangerous accidents often caused by a trace becoming detached from the singletree, or the end of a tug coming in contact with the wheels of a carriage, making a rattling noise, and frightening the horse.

With this object in view, the invention consists of the construction and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1, shows the manner in which my Invention is attached to a singletree. Fig. 2, shows a perspective view of the same, and Fig. 3, shows a modified trace or tug supporter on the attachment.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates my attachment consisting of a metallic strip 2, formed on its outer end into a curved plate spring 3, having a downwardly projecting end 4, the point of which enters a depression 5 in the singletree. In fastening the ends of the traces or tu'gs to the singletree, the end of the spring 3 is raised a suffi- A cient distance to allow the tug to be slipped over the end of the singletree and under the spring, when the same is released, and it assumes its original position.

6 is a trace or tug supporting loop centrally affixed to the strip 2 by alaterally projecting curved portion in any suitable mannor, the end of the tug being inserted through the loopafter the same is fastened to the singletree, (see Fig. 1,) and thus prevented from flopping about.

Instead of having a loop for holding the ends 'of the tugs, a flexible hook 8 as shown in Fig. 3, may be provided, which will clamp and hold the ends of the tug or trace firm when forced between the sides thereof.

To the inner endof the strap 2, is fastened a spring hook 9, the end of which impinges against the cross bar connecting the thills of a buggy, (as shown in Fig. 1,) and obviates the necessity of singletree straps or loops to regulate the play of the singletree; the spring hooks also preventing the abrupt and jerky movement of the singletree occurring when leather straps or loops are used for the same singletree by screws, bolts, or in any other suitable manner.

The attachment as herein described, it desired, can be manufactured out of one piece, or the tug supporting loop 6, the hook 9 and the strip 2, with the spring formed on one.

end, manufactured separately and connected together by screws or bolts which atthe same time secures the attachment to the singletree.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-=- The combination in an attachment for singletrees comprising the metallic strip formed on the outer end into a curved spring having a downwardly projecting point, a trace or tug In testimony that I claim the foregoing as supportingloop laterally affixedto'saidstrip my inventien I have-si'gned-my namein the at or near the center thereof, and the spring presence of two subseribing witnesses.

hook secured to the inner end of the strip to 5 impinge against the cross bar and regulate the Witnesses:

movement of the singletree, substantially as GEORGE OTTSOH, -MAMIE GIBBONS.

RANDALL T. VAN VALKENBURG.

described. 

